The nurses’ and midwives’ union is holding a special conference for members across Ireland to discuss the pay report and the government’s proposals on September 26th.

Before then, the INMO has called for direct negotiations with the Ministers for Health and Finance.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:

“It’s up to the Ministers for Health and Finances to engage with us seriously before our Special Delegate Conference in September. Our deadline stands. Without progress, our members will be forced to examine other alternatives.

“Nursing and midwifery are professions in crisis, with only one application for every four vacancies. Talk to nurses and midwives anywhere in Ireland, and they’ll tell you pay is the number one cause of understaffing.

“The health service can’t go on like this. Last month saw record overcrowding and winter is on the way. Without a pay raise for nurses and midwives, our health service will grind slowly to a halt, as more of us look at better pay overseas and in other sectors.”